Banger-indicating device for thermostats



Nov. 9 1926.

YJ. A. lNNERARITY DANGER INDICATING' DEVICE FOR THERMOSTAT-S Filed March27. 1925 Patented Nov. 9, 1926..

UNITED.

JOSEFH A. INNERARITY,

:5 SLIDELL, LOUISIANA.

DANGER-INDICATING DEVICE FOR THERMOSTATS.

Application filed March 27, 1925.

The present invention relates to thermostats for use in connection withthe radiators of automobiles for indicating the temperature of the watertherein, and aims to provide a novel and improved device of thischaracter which will render a signal when thetemperature of the waterreaches an abnormal degree.

Another object of the invention is the proin vision of a thermostathaving a pair of electric contacts carried thereby for contactingwitlrthe mercury in the thermostat for ClOS- ing an electric circuitwhen said mercury rises to a height that bridges the contacts,

said contacts having their interior surfaces flush with the mercuryopening in the thermostat so as not to interfere with the movement ofthe mercury.

It is also an object of the invention to 20 provide a danger indicatingdevice for thermostats, which is simple and substantial in construction,which can be manufactured economically, and which will be thoroughlyefficient and practical in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent asthe description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction andarrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it being 315understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed,without departinc; from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device, showing portionsthereof in section,

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the same,

Figure 3 is an enlarged section showing the manner of mounting theelectric con tacts,

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a detail view showing the type of electric connection used.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral designates a supporting frame orcasing having removably attached thereto on one side 50 a front plate11, while on the opposite side is arranged a glass panel 12, saidsupporting frame or casing also having a depending screw threaded shank13 which extends downwardly through a radiator cap 14 and 65 hasthreaded on the lower end thereof a binding nut 15 in order that thedevice may Serial No. 18,737.

be rigidly carried by the radiator cap; The screw threaded shank 13 ishollow. and has arranged therein a mercury bulb 16 having an upwardlyextending mercury tube 17, which has the upper extremity thereofreceived in a socket 18 provided in the upper portion of the supportingframe 10.

The mercury tube 17 has a pair of rectan gular openings 19 provided inthe side thereof and arranged in spaced relation to each other. Receivedin the rectangular openings 19 are contact members 20, which are of asize sufficient to completely close said openings, and which have theinterior surfaces thereof curve-d, as at 21, for conforming to the sameconfiguration as the bore of the tube 17, said contacts 20 beingprovided with reduced neck portions 22 and a threaded shank 23. In orderthat the contacts 20 may be secured in a rigid manner to the mercurytube 17 a mass of sealing material, which may be glass and is indicatedby the numeral 24, is placed on the tube adjacent the rectangularopenings therein and the contacts 20 in such a manner that portionsthereof are received in the reduced necks 22 of the contacts which willform the means that secures said contacts permanently to the mercurytube 17.

Attached to the threaded shanks 23 of the contacts 20 are the ends of apair of electric wires 25 and 26, which are held in place by nuts 27, orthe like. The opposite ends of the wires 25 and 26 extend towards eachother and are secured in an electric connection socket 28 arranged inone side of the supporting frame or casing 10. Said socket 28 is securedin position by means of a set screw 29, while a removable connectionplug 30 extends into the open end thereof and has attached to the same apair of electric wires 31 and 32. Said wires 31 and 32 extend to a pointaway from my improved device and have arranged in circuit therewith anelectric horn 33 and a battery 34, or any other supply of current.

In operation of the device, the mercury contained in the bulb 16 andtube 17 rises and lowers according to the temperature of the water inthe radiator. Should the tent perature of the water reach an abnormaldegree, the mercury in the tube will rise to a point where the samebridges the contacts 20, thus closing an electric circuit to the horn33, in order to sound an alarm. It is to be noted that the contacts 20are spaced from each other with the uppermost contact positioned at apoint only reached by the mercury when the water in the radiator hasreached a point Where the same will not properly cool the engine, andthat the inte rior surfaces of the contacts are curved to conform to theshape of the bore in the tube 17 in order that the movement of the mer-Cury will not be interfered with.

When itis desired to remove the radiator cap lt for supplying 'a freshquantity of water to the radiator, the plug 80 may be readily removedfrom the socket 28 in order to permit the radiator cap to be turned forremoving the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

In athermostat, a mercury tube provided at itssides with spaced openingswhich are rectangular, contact members having head portions which arerectangular in transverse section and which fit snugly in the openingsof the tube, said contact members having reduced neck portions locatedexteriorly of the tube, sealing material adhering to the exteriorsurface of the tube and bearing against the outer surfaces of the headportions of the contact members and against the surfaces of the neckportions of the contact members, conductor wires connected with theouter ends'of the contact members, and nuts screwed upon the outer endsof the cont-act members and holding the wires against the outer faces ofthe heads.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature.

JOSEPH A. INNERARITY.

